By Esther Onyegbula

Nigerian biomedical scientist, Muh’d Saheed Abd-Rouf, has revealed findings from a study indicating that ginger, a common household spice, may play a significant role in combating colorectal cancer, one of the fastest-rising cancers in the country.

Nigeria records over 8,000 new colorectal cancer cases annually, with hospital-based studies showing that the disease accounts for up to 11.7 per cent of all cancer diagnoses nationwide.

Many patients, experts say, present late with complications such as rectal bleeding, bowel obstruction and severe weight loss, making treatment more difficult and costly.

The research work was presented at the 57th Annual National Conference of AMLSCN.

Speaking on his research, Abd-Rouf said his interest was driven by the need for solutions that are affordable and accessible to ordinary Nigerians. “I wanted to explore something familiar, culturally accepted and within reach of everyday people,” he said, explaining why he focused on ginger.

The study, conducted during his undergraduate research at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, investigated the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale) in colorectal cancer–induced Wistar rats. According to him, the results were “surprisingly strong.”

“My findings showed that ginger extract significantly suppressed inflammatory pathways that promote tumour growth and survival,” Muh’d Saheed said. “It also inhibited COX-2 activity, which is a major driver of colorectal cancer progression.”

He noted that the results suggest the possibility of developing a standardised ginger-based therapeutic compound that could serve as a safe and cost-effective complementary option for colorectal cancer care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria.

However, the researcher stressed that laboratory success alone is not enough. He said translating the findings into an approved medical product would require extract standardisation, toxicity studies, clinical trials and regulatory approvals, processes that are beyond the capacity of most academic laboratories.

“This is where pharmaceutical companies are critical,” he said. “They have the infrastructure, regulatory experience and manufacturing capacity needed to turn promising natural compounds into validated cancer therapies.”

He described the project as an opportunity for a Made-in-Nigeria cancer solution, adding that the country’s rich biodiversity remains underutilised due to weak research–industry collaboration. “Imagine a cancer therapy researched by Nigerians, developed in Nigeria, from plants grown on Nigerian soil, and affordable for our people,” he said.

He added that beyond health benefits, developing ginger-based anticancer drugs could reduce dependence on imported oncology medicines, create jobs in biotech and manufacturing, and improve cancer outcomes nationwide.

Currently a biomedical scientist at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Abd-Rouf said he and his team are open to partnerships with pharmaceutical firms, biotech companies and grant funders. “We are ready for co-development, joint grants, clinical trials and technology transfer,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to act quickly as colorectal cancer cases continue to rise. “Our early findings are encouraging, but collaboration will determine how fast they translate into real impact,” he said, adding that “together, we can save lives and position Nigeria as a leader in natural-product oncology research.”